Trinibagonians are supporting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in her foreign policy position supporting USA in launching military strikes against narco-traffickers. The PM is praised for acting in the national interest of T&T. Last April 28, voters gave Kamla control of the government to pursue policy that is beneficial of T&T. She placed national interest ahead of interests of left wing governments. Her position counters that of Maduro. And she is acting in what she feels is in the best interests of the nation. Crime, trafficking, and uncontrolled migration are real threats to T&T; USA is assisting in countering them.
She is widely supported for her position against Maduro. The public feels that the political opposition is wrong in its handling of Maduro. It will cost the opposition political support. Trinibagonians favor cementing ties with USA, not Maduro. Trinibagonians stood to lose visas and experience high tariffs had they opposed Trump’s military strikes against narco-traffickers and the American presence in the region. Contrary to what CARCIOM feels, the American presence is not a threat to the zone of peace in the region. It guarantees peace.
Kamla’s position on President Trump’s military strikes and on Venezuela has also won her admiration in the diaspora as well as in Guyana and USA and regionally among those supportive of American geo-strategic interests and actions in the region. Even non-supporters in Brooklyn back Kamla in her position supporting USA. They and other Trinis in America as well as supporters at home note that Kamla’s policies promote the interests of the people of T&T foremost, not those of other countries and of regional leaders who themselves have been pursuing self interests. CARICOM’s position that USA is a threat to peace is unsubstantiated; conversely, it is guaranteeing peace. USA is a stabilising factor against Maduro.for democratic nations like T&T and CARICOM. Venezuela’s military build and its partnership with authoritarian Russia, Iran, and China is a serious threat to peace. It is noted that T&T lacks the capacity to cope in a region where the military might of Venezuela threatens it. The country is forced to cooperate with USA or suffer the consequences of sanctions and high tariffs.
Supporters of Kamla note that other CARICOM nations don’t face the same problems as T&T which has Venezuela as its neighbor and from where drugs and illegal weapons routinely come across the border. Venezuelans have been involved in countless crimes in Trinidad; some 2,000 Venezuelans have been imprisoned in Trinidad.
The PM is right to make herself a very important player in President Trump’s action against Venezuelan dictator. T&T needs Trump’s support for the Dragon Gas project, which Maduro has shelved for now. If she had not supported Trump, the project itself would not have been gotten the go ahead. The USA has sanctioned business deals with Maduro.
Kamla has taken a fearless approach against Maduro. She has refused to be bullied by the neighboring dictator, who rendered her persona non-grata. Her strong position has been evident in her addresses at home and at the UN 80th session last September 26 as well as to CARICOM leaders.
Kamla need not be bothered by recent remarks by Prime Minister Motley, Ralph Gonsalves and other CARICOM leaders, and Opposition figures U.S. presence in the Caribbean is a threat to peace. This position is imprudent and lacks an understanding of American geo-strategic interests. T&T’s interests are aligned with USA’s. Safety and security and economic considerations are first priority for T&T which lacks the capacity and financial resources to defend itself against Venezuela. Maduro is a hostile neighbor who can mount a military attack against Trinidad or Guyana at anytime as he has threatened. Without the deterrent presence of U.S military forces, he could be emboldened to attack either or both countries. Without U.S military, intelligence support, and collective defence mechanisms, anything could have happened in Guyana and Trinidad. A military trained Venezuela planted an explosive device at a gas station in Guyana that killed ne and destroyed multiple dwellings.
Clearly, T&T and Guyana lacks the capacity to stand up to Maduro. They need USA. T&T interests lie with Washington, not with regional leaders.
